Animas Forks, named for the three forks of the Animas River,
which flows through the town site. Animas Forks is tucked away twelve miles
northeast of Silverton, Colorado, at 11,200 feet — more than two miles — above
sea level The town's first log cabin was built in 1873; by 1876, this bustling
mining community boasted 30 cabins, a hotel, a general store, a saloon, and a
post office.

The population of Animas Forks grew to about 450 people by 1883. The town also
had a newspaper, The Animas Forks Pioneer, published from June 1882 through
October 1886 at the highest newspaper printing plant in the history of the
United States. Every fall, most residents left in a mass exodus to "warmer"
Silverton. In 1884, Animas Forks suffered a blizzard that lasted 23 days and
dumped 25 feet of snow on the town. Residents dug tunnels to get from building
to building.

Before Silverton became an incorporated town, Animas Forks was the San Juan
County seat, where court cases were heard. One man who was fined $10 and
court costs didn't like the outcome
of his trial. During the trial he promised the judge, "I'll take this to a higher court!" Responded the wry
judge Dyer, "There is no such thing. This is the highest court in the
United States."